The Green Bay Packers enter a pivotal 2026 offseason with a championship-caliber core shadowed by alarming depth concerns, according to former All-Pro tackle and team analyst Bryan Bulaga. In a candid assessment, Bulaga pinpointed three critical position groups he views as potential Achilles’ heels for a team still reeling from a 2023 season decimated by injuries.

Bulaga expressed utmost confidence in the team’s offensive firepower, specifically highlighting the quarterback and wide receiver units. “I feel best about the quarterback position. I feel good about Jordan Love and I feel good about our wide receivers,” Bulaga stated, affirming the foundation of the Packers’ attack remains solid. He also acknowledged the high-end talent of players like edge rusher Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft, though their uncertain return timelines from injury temper his optimism.

His primary concerns, however, are vast and systemic. “Where I’m most concerned about is corner. I’m most concerned about offensive line depth and competition in that group. And then obviously… that entire defensive line,” Bulaga declared. He emphasized these are not isolated worries about a single starter, but profound issues regarding roster depth across entire position rooms.

The cornerback situation was described as a “monster issue.” Bulaga questioned whether the current roster, featuring players like Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon, possesses a true number one or even a reliable number two starter. “If [Nixon] breaks a shoelace and they can’t find a new shoelace for a whole game, where do you go?” he posed, underscoring the lack of proven contingency plans.

This problem is compounded by the pass rush, another area of uncertainty. With Parsons’ return date unclear, the pressure on any secondary increases exponentially. “Then all the emphasis goes on to the pass rushers… and they have to get home. And if they don’t get home in two and a half seconds, those guys behind them are exposed,” Bulaga explained, connecting the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Along the defensive front, the trade of Kenny Clark and the injury to Devonte Wyatt last season revealed a stark lack of capable reinforcements. Bulaga pointed to the dramatic drop-off in run defense when Wyatt was injured in Detroit as a cautionary tale. He expressed concern over who could fill the void if a key lineman like Javon Hargrave or Wyatt missed time, especially if Parsons is also absent.

The offensive line presents a mirror image of the same problem. While a starting five may be projected, Bulaga sees little reliable depth behind them. “You lose your center. Say Sean Rhyan rolls an ankle. Who’s playing center?” he questioned, noting that the line’s performance was already compromised last season by injuries to key players like Zach Tom, who played hurt throughout the year.

General Manager Brian Gutekunst faces the immense challenge of addressing these gaps without a first-round draft pick. Bulaga suggested cornerback must be a priority with their second-round selection. “You have to address that position with your second round pick,” he asserted, while acknowledging the draft’s unpredictability and the need for immediate contributions from rookies.

The burden also falls on recent draft classes to make a significant leap. Bulaga reviewed the 2025 class, noting limited immediate impact from its eight selections. Players like Matthew Golden and Anthony Belton showed flashes, but the development of others like Colin Oliver and Brennan Jackson is now urgent. “He better jump in a big way for them. Yes. ‘Cuz they don’t have many other options,” Bulaga said of Jackson.

Bulaga contextualized these concerns within the brutal injury luck of the prior season, where the Packers finished with 17 players on injured reserve. He argued the absences of Parsons and Kraft were more debilitating to the team’s structure than had they lost starting quarterback Jordan Love. This history underscores the critical need for a deeper, more resilient roster construction.

The analysis paints a picture of a franchise at a crossroads, possessing elite talent at skill positions but resting on a dangerously thin foundation in the trenches and the secondary. As the second wave of free agency and the draft approach, the pressure is on Gutekunst to fortify these weaknesses. The Packers’ ability to contend in 2026 may hinge not on their stars, but on the quality of their next men up—a group that currently inspires more questions than answers.

Former lineman Bryan Bulaga has outlined critical areas the team needs to address, from offensive line consistency to overall execution. His insights are resonating with fans who believe small improvements could make a major difference.